Best powder for these calibers

caboverbobby

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I am going to start reloading and would like to know what works best for these calibers.

22-250 Will be my varmint rifle

243 Will be my deer rifle

308 will be a bear/moose rifle

Does powder selection have to be made before or after deciding on a bullet?

What would be your recommendation for these rifles?

Thanks for all your help, always appreciated!
 
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I have had good luck with IMR4064 in the .22-250 and the .243. That said the best powder I found for the .22-250 was Varget and I use H4831 with 100g bullets in my .243. I don't load for a .308, but IMR4064 will work for it too.
 
I am going to start reloading and would like to know what works best for these calibers.

22-250 Will be my varmint rifle

243 Will be my deer rifle

308 will be a bear/moose rifle

Does powder selection have to be made before or after deciding on a bullet?

What would be your recommendation for these rifles?

Thanks for all your help, always appreciated!

.308 win use a 155 gr bullet and 45 gr H-4895

Yes, bullet first, then powder.
 
I use 35 grains of H-4895 over 50 grain hornady vmax in my 22-250 .5 inch group at 100 yards out of a browning abolt with boss 1/14 twist

I use 36 grains of varget over 50 grain hornady vmax in my 22-250 .5 inch group at 100 yards out of a browning abolt with boss 1/14 twist
 
Once you have determined what bullet you wish to use, consult manuals that list most accurate powders and most accurate load. Nosler and Sierra are two that I use and they can be swapped for similar bullets.
Some of the books list the most accurate powder for 2, 3 or 4 of their similar weight bullets. I used the data for the Nosler 60 grain bullet and swapped Sierra 60 grain HP in .22-250. The Sierra load for their 190 grain .308 calibre MK gave me a starting point for the 190 Hornady using Re22 powder. Hornady's figures use .8 grains more powder in their book. It is a theory but it is close enough for the girls I take out!
 
Love the idea of buying Canadian products.

Does anyone make a bullet in Canada?

I bought these manuals to get me started...

-Speer (latest version)
-Hornady 8th edition
-Lyman 49th edition
-Barmers 2nd, 3rd and 4th edition
-ABC's of reloading
And RCBS and Hornady reloading DVD's.

I'm hoping that what I have purchased will steer me into the right path with this new found hobby.
 
Matrix bullets are Canadian. Damned fine too. So are Chinchaga bullets I know one-size-fits-all is a handy thing powder wise, but it will be unlikely that one powder will give you the best, most accurate results with all those cartridges. Varget isn't that tough to find and it is the most temperature stable, and is used by more compettive shooters than any other in the cartridges (such as 308) in which it works
 
Not looking for one powder fits all, just wondering what people have used and if they've had good luck with their choice.

I'm hoping to save a little money but not having to experiment too much. I've already spent way more than my budget on equipment so I'm hoping that other peoples experience will help me.
 
Powder choice starts with caliber and bullet weight. I load all the calibers you listed, but have not used a single powder for all three.

22-250 for varmint 55 gr bullet 38 gr of Win 760 or H414

243 for deer 95-100 gr bullet 46 gr of Win 760 or H414

308 for deer & moose 180 gr bullet 47 gr of Win 760 or H414
 
I have loaded all three with IMR 4350 depending on bullet weight, with the heavier bullets in each it may not be the absolute optimum but it will be in the top 3 choices and I;ve almost always had good to excellent accuracy with it in these calibers and several more.
 
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